May 28th - Aswan then to Luxor

After the last posting, I went on a felucca ride around the islands in Aswan. It was some nice freshwater sailing which was pretty nice.

The next morning I got up around 2:45, for the bus ride to Abu Simbel to see the Great Temple of Ramses II and The Temple of Hathor. Very impressive statues and artwork inside. Met up with an Austrian girl Ooli who filled me in on all the marriage proposals and declarations of love she receives here in Egypt. She wears a wedding ring and carries a picture of herself with a friend to say that is her husband. Gets plenty of interest here in Egypt but she is getting tired of the interest.

Went back to the hotel and my previous agent hooked me up with a reservation in Luxor at the Bob Marley Hostel. Was pretty chaotic at the train station, I stood in line with the locals but they kept budding in line and the computers seemed to be down. I spoke to a French couple who were further in the line but they were told to go to the first class booth where I followed them. Got a 4 o'clock ticket to Luxor and arrived at 7:00pm.

My contact met me at the station and escorted me to the hostel. Also, he arranged a bus tour and a bus ticket to Dahab for the day after tomorrow. The bus tour is to see the Valley of the Kings/Queens in the morning to lunch. I also have a tour of the Luxor Temple and Temples of Karnac. My inner macho masochist said I was going to just take plenty of water and hike it but this is probably a smarter thing to do.

I walked around town this evening and saw Luxor Temple lit up at night. Impressive. I am going to try and find something to eat then probably hit the sack as the bus tour leaves at 8am tomorrow morning. With the bus tour I will probably have more time to look around town in a leisurely fashion.